The short answer
Not known in people. We found no study that tested turmeric with ibuprofen, diclofenac or other NSAID painkillers. New Zealand's medicines regulator, Medsafe, says turmeric or curcumin products taken with medicines like these may prolong bleeding time and should be avoided. That caution comes from how the products act, not from a reported case with an NSAID.
Medsafe's notice is about supplements, not haldi in food. Cooking amounts are a different exposure, though they have not been tested either. If you take an NSAID regularly, for example for joint pain, tell your prescribing doctor before you start turmeric or curcumin capsules, and mention any unusual bruising, bleeding or stomach trouble.
Ibuprofen is sold in India as Brufen, diclofenac as Voveran and naproxen as Naprosyn.
At a glance
| What was seen | How it may work | Direction | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Possible longer bleeding time[1] | Added effects on blood clotting (proposed, not measured) | More risk of bleeding | Theoretical by mechanism |
No listing is not a clearance. A missing interaction here never means a combination is safe.
The evidence, study by study
Regulator notice, New Zealand, 2018 Theoretical by mechanism
Medsafe's 2018 notice on turmeric and curcumin products was prompted by a person on warfarin whose INR rose above 10 within a few weeks of starting turmeric. In the same notice, Medsafe adds that using these products with other medicines that affect bleeding, including NSAIDs, may prolong bleeding time and should be avoided. It describes no NSAID case and gives no bleeding rate.[1]
What your doctor may watch for
- Unusual bruising or bleeding, and stomach symptoms, especially if you take an NSAID most days.[1]
What to tell your prescribing doctor
You can read this out, or show them this page:
“I am taking, or planning to take, turmeric or curcumin (name of product, how much) along with my painkiller (name and how often). A regulator has warned that turmeric supplements with medicines like this may prolong bleeding. Is the combination a concern for me?”
Withheld until review
Related
Turmeric and blood thinners
Two reports describe a raised INR after turmeric in people on warfarin-type blood thinners. Blood thinners leave little margin.
ConditionOsteoarthritis and knee pain: what Ayurveda offers
One boswellia extract and two Indian formulations eased knee pain in trials. The evidence is uneven, and one trial found raised liver enzymes.
InteractionTurmeric and acidity medicines (omeprazole, pantoprazole)
A trial gave curcumin with omeprazole and measured indigestion symptoms, not drug levels. We found no interaction study of turmeric with acidity medicines.
InteractionGinger (adrak) and warfarin
Two women on blood thinners had a high INR after ginger supplements, and ginger users on warfarin reported more bleeding. One small study found no change.
Sources
Updated 4 November 2026
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